Mani Ratnam, who turns 68 on Sunday (June 2), is inarguably one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated names. The ace director began his career with ‘Pallavi Anu Pallavi’ (1983) and soon redefined the tenets of the industry with his subtle yet intense style of storytelling. Moreover, he has worked with some of the finest performers in the industry and proved that he is a ‘star’ filmmaker in the truest sense. Here is a look at seven films that bear testimony to his talent.
Mani Ratnam’s tribute to ‘The Godfather’, ‘Nayakan’ centered on a slum dweller who becomes a respectable don following a series of events. It featured a skillfully crafted screenplay that gave the viewers a closer look into the protagonist’s dilemma and vulnerabilities.
It featured an unforgettable soundtrack, composed by Ilaiyaraaja, which added depth to the gripping narrative. ‘Nayakan’ was later remade in Hindi as Dayavan. The remake, however, failed to live up to expectations.
‘Thalapathi’, which featured Rajinikanth and Mammootty as the parallel leads, was loosely based on the friendship between Duryodhana and Karnan. The film is perhaps best remembered for the intense sequences between ‘Superstar’ and Malayalam cinema’s ‘Best Actor’. ‘Thalapathi’ emerged as a commercial success and soon attained cult status. Filmmaker CS Amudhan, best known for his work on Thamizh Padam, described the film as “intellectual entertaining cinema”
‘Roja’ was a sensitively-handled romantic thriller that centred on a simple village girl who tries to trace her husband after he is abducted during a covert mission in Jammu and Kashmir. It is best remembered for Arvind Swami and Madhoo’s chemistry as well as AR Rahman’s mesmerising soundtrack.
Like ‘Roja’, ‘Bombay’ explored the impact of socio-political developments on human relationships. The romantic drama centred on the effect of the Bombay riots on an inter-religious family. Mani Ratnam handled the sensitive issue with maturity, crafting a masterpiece that was hard-hitting and touching in equal measure.
Mani Ratnam floored the Hindi audience with ‘Dil Se’, one of the most ambitious films of his career. The film revolved around a radio broadcaster who falls for a mysterious woman only to learn a secret about her. A fine example of engaging realistic cinema, ‘Dil Se’ is best remembered for AR Rahman’s soul-stirring music and Shah Rukh Khan’s crackling chemistry with Manisha Koirala. The film was moderately successful at the box office and received rave reviews.
‘Guru’ was an expertly done rags to riches story that centred on a villager who becomes a tycoon after arriving in Bombay in 1958. The film became a rage among fans because of its fiery dialogues and engaging screenplay. Moreover, Mani Ratnam extracted an intense performance from Abhishek Bachchan that ranks among his best.
Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ was a two-part period drama that traced the life of Arunmozhi Varman, the Chola king who later came to be known as Rajaraja I. The first part established the characters while the sequel, which premiered in 2023, explored the dynamics between them. The ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ saga garnered attention with its stunning costumes and gripping visuals. The cast included Jayam Ravi, Chiyaan Vikram, Karthi, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan among others.